Mother dead after minivan plunges off Bear Mountain

STONY POINT, N.Y. (AP) - A minivan holding a mother and her two daughters plunged 300 feet down a cliff at a state park, killing the woman and injuring her children, authorities said.

The family from Staten Island had stopped the car along a road in Bear Mountain State Park around 6 p.m. Wednesday. While the woman's husband, Victor Han, was outside looking at the scenery, police said, the minivan rolled over the cliff, tumbling down the mountainside into the trees and rocks below.

Emergency officials said the minivan appeared to have gone between boulders lining the outer edge of the road.

Three people hiking in the area saw the accident and brought police to the scene. One of the hikers became stranded trying to help but was later rescued, officials said.

Han's 35-year-old wife, Hejin, was declared dead at the scene, state police said. She was not wearing a seat belt; her daughters, ages 3 and 5, were, police said.

Police said the children were taken to Nyack Hospital with minor injuries.

Bear Mountain State Park is on the border of Rockland and Orange counties, about 40 miles north of New York City.